Susila Dharma International Assoc., Inc.
Building with humanity
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
SDIA works in four areas to address multiple issues that are identified by our partners - grassroots organisations close to the problems that affect people the most. Here are some examples: Health: in some countries, health services are weak and illness can have a far greater impact than in wealthier nations. A lack of access to sanitation and clean-drinking water compounds the problem. Elsewhere, older people are isolated and others (eg HIV+ patients) can feel marginalised and unable to get the care they need. Education: school can be hard to access for some children and vocational training unavailable for adults; in societies around the world young children are not given the care or stimulation they need from a young age. Environment: poorer communities are more vulnerable to climate change, environmental destruction and the loss of endangered species. Livelihoods: sometimes earning a living conflicts with protecting nature or is impossible because of lack of skills and training.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Children, Youth and Education
Susila Dharma supports under-served populations needing access to quality education, provides a protective and nurturing environment for learners and supports child development.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT:
Susila Dharma helps give children a good start in life leading to greater success in all they want to achieve, by improving early childhood development, parenting skills and nutrition for families and young children.
CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT:
Susila Dharma provides ‘safe spaces’ for children, youth and families to learn about healthy lifestyles, enjoy sport and cultural activities, develop positive coping strategies, and protect themselves from violence and abuse.
SUPPORT TO EDUCATION:
Susila Dharma provides access to quality formal, informal and vocational education for 1000s of children, youth, women and men every year. It provides scholarships, helps improve school infrastructure and builds the capacity of teachers, trainers and institutions.
Health and Wellbeing
Susila Dharma builds health facilities, promotes quality care, improves infrastructure in line with the needs of local communities, and promotes health education.
NUTRITION: Susila Dharma works to promote food security and nutrition by teaching families to grow, prepare and enjoy the foods that are most beneficial to human health.
WATER, SANITATION, DISEASE PREVENTION: Susila Dharma works to prevent illness and mortality by providing communities with access to clean drinking water, improved sanitation. We help stop the spread of endemic diseases and reduce the use of harmful chemicals.
HEALTH CARE DELIVERY:
Susila Dharma builds and operates health centers, provides training and support to health practitioners, and care for the elderly.
Sustainable Livelihoods and Environment
Susila Dharma provides skills development opportunities, access to credit, support to small enterprises and strives to develop sustainable livelihoods.
Susila Dharma builds cooperative processes that foster peace, support development and mobilise communities to protect their natural resources and the environment. We facilitate participatory community planning, collaboration with government and other agencies, training and awareness-raising.
LIVELIHOODS:
Susila Dharma works to help communities develop the language, technical and management skills to feed their families, develop their enterprises and gain employment while living in harmony with the natural world. We provide the tools and equipment necessary for these enterprises to thrive.
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES:
Susila Dharma supports good governance and processes, addressing local needs that peacefully mediate differences, disputes and community conflicts as they arise.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:
Susila Dharma protects the precious environments upon which all life on this planet depends and enhances the resilience of communities and ecosystems.
Where we work
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
SDIA aims to accomplish the following in each of the fours areas we work in.
Health and Wellbeing: reduce the rates of preventable and treatable illness, infections and mortality in vulnerable communities; build and operate health centers, provide training and support to health practitioners, and care for the elderly; provide communities with access to clean drinking water and improve sanitation; provide care for the dying and their families; provide care for marginalised populations such as those infected with HIV.
Education & Youth: provide access to quality formal, informal and vocational education for thousands of children, youth, women and men every year; provide scholarships, help improve school infrastructure and build the capacity of teachers, trainers and institutions; help children get a good start in life leading to greater success in all they want to achieve.
Sustainable Livelihoods: help communities develop the language, technical and management skills to feed their families, develop their enterprises and gain employment while living in harmony with the natural world; provide the tools and equipment necessary for these enterprises to thrive.
Environment: work with the poorest communities, which are the most vulnerable to climate change and environmental destruction; help change practices and find alternative ways of growing food, ensuring access to safe water and protecting the environment - all of which leads to good stewardship of our planet.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
SDIA works with projects in challenging environments to reduce illness and mortality, and improve quality of life. We help to build healthcare facilities, improve healthcare infrastructure, promote health education, and encourage community participation whenever possible. We believe that access to quality healthcare is a basic human right. Our initiatives:
Build & operate healthcare clinics in highly under-served communities
Deliver healthcare services to vulnerable groups such as pregnant mothers, babies, young children & the elderly
Provide access to clean water and good-quality sanitation, thereby diminishing the spread of communicable diseases
Encourage community participation in the healthcare process via fee-based 'health mutuals', which help to subsidize clinics
SDIA provides education and skills training to people of all ages, enabling them to lead fulfilling, productive lives. Our efforts typically benefit under-served populations in poor and/or rural areas that lack access to quality education. While traditional classroom learning is a central component, we embrace a lifelong view of learning that begins at birth. Our initiatives:
Educate new mothers regarding good nutrition, infant healthcare & stimulation
Teach children & teens how to protect themselves against physical & emotional abuse
Oversee vocational and daycare centers, primary schools, after-school programs and scholarship funds
Provide people of all ages with quality job skills training
Organize cultural & athletic activities that encourage healthy living, boost morale & improve coping skills
SDIA is committed to providing people with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to support themselves and their communities. We help to mobilize communities to develop new or existing income streams in harmony with the natural environment. Our initiatives:
Teach people the skills needed to develop new enterprises or gain employment
Offer financial support, such as credits, to small businesses
Facilitate mutually beneficial planning and cooperation between communities & local government agencies
Promote food security by teaching people how to grow nutritious food for themselves & their communities
SDIA often works with disadvantaged communities living in ecologically sensitive ecosystems. These rural populations often rely on traditional agricultural livelihoods that are vulnerable to extreme weather events, and environmental destruction. SDIA provides the guidance and assistance that these communities need in order to provide for themselves while still protecting the natural environment. Our initiatives:
Encourage small home gardens to help people to achieve food independence & security
Educate farmers regarding sustainable agriculture that respects traditional livelihoods while protecting the environment
Champion organic growing practices
Help find eco-friendly alternatives to chemical extraction & processing
Provide emergency aid to communities affected by disasters.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
SDIA's capabilities for achieving our goals and objectives are linked to a large international network, mobilised to help meet local challenges. Our capabilities for local identification of problems, challenges, actors and opportunities are strong and rooted in the communities served. Our member NGOs working at the grassroots level are the best placed to mobilise local actors to analyse priority problems and which actors are key to solving them. On the other hand, strong local actors often need support from international partners with specialised skills and resources to help them maximize their success. SDIA is able to bring volunteers, resources, and new skills to bear on behalf of local development.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
SDIA has supported:
- Hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged children and youth to get an education and improve their lives
- More than a million people to access improved health and wellbeing services
- The protection of around 75,000 hectares of endangered ecosystems
- The protection of endangered species of flora and fauna and over 300 varieties of native seeds
- Access to more sustainable livelihoods for X number of people
We will continue to grow our network of mutual support to include more communities, ecosystems and individuals over the coming decade.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Susila Dharma International Assoc., Inc.
Board of directorsas of 04/08/2020
Evan Padilla
Mrs Stephanie Holloway
Virginia Thomas
Evan Padilla
Viktor Boehm
Stephanie Holloway
Viktor Boehm
Nahum Harlap
Osanna Peters
Gopinath Parakuni
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No